U.S. patent application number 10/623829 was filed with the patent office on 2005-06-16 for container for foodstuffs.
Invention is credited to Johnson, Terry J..
Application Number | 20050127151 10/623829 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34652548 |
Filed Date | 2005-06-16 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050127151 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Johnson, Terry J. |
June 16, 2005 |
Container for foodstuffs
Abstract
A container for foodstuffs including a carton, tray and pad,
each formed from a cut and creased blank of foldable sheet
material. The carton is substantially a tubular element having end
panels for enclosing the carton. A plurality of corner locks are
provided to maintain the end panels oriented in a closed position.
Handles formed in the carton permit stacking of the containers and
easy transportation.
Inventors: |
Johnson, Terry J.; (Chicago,
IL) |
Correspondence
Address: |
VEDDER PRICE KAUFMAN & KAMMHOLZ
222 N. LASALLE STREET
CHICAGO
IL
60601
US
|
Family ID: |
34652548 |
Appl. No.: |
10/623829 |
Filed: |
July 21, 2003 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
229/117.14 ;
206/559; 229/124; 229/902 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 5/5035 20130101;
Y10S 229/902 20130101; B65D 5/5495 20130101; B65D 5/46096 20130101;
Y10S 229/913 20130101; B65D 5/0245 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
229/117.14 ;
229/124; 229/902; 206/559 |
International
Class: |
B65D 005/46; B65D
043/00 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A blank for fabricating a carton which is formed from a
generally rectangular sheet of material comprising: the blank
divided by a plurality of longitudinal fold-forming creases into a
plurality of generally rectangular sections, which sections are
laterally offset relative to one another; the blank sections
generally configured as a base-forming panel hinged to one of a
pair of opposing side-forming panels which flank a top-forming
panel and to a lip-forming panel; the base-forming panel including
a pair of opposing end-forming panels hinged to the base-forming
panel by fold-forming creases for movement relative to the
base-forming panel; a plurality of corner lock-forming portions,
each defined in cooperatively adjacent top-forming panels and
side-forming panels adjacent an end of the blank by a transverse
cut line intersecting the longitudinal fold-forming crease and
extending between adjacent top-forming and side-forming panels; and
a pair of opposed handle-forming portions, each defined in
cooperatively adjacent top-forming and side-forming panels by a
fold-forming crease disposed in the top-forming panel parallel to
and offset from the longitudinal fold-forming creases and a cut
line connecting opposed ends of the handle fold-forming crease.
2. The blank as defined in claim 1, wherein an aperture is defined
in each handle-forming portion to facilitate carrying.
3. The blank as defined in claim 1, wherein one of the
handle-forming portions includes a locking flap defined therein by
a cut line and hinged to the handle-forming portion by a
fold-forming crease such that movement of the locking flap into
engagement with an aperture defined in another handle-forming
portion connects the handle-forming portions to facilitate
carrying.
4. The blank as defined in claim 1, wherein the blank is
transversely bisected by a segmented cut line normal to each
longitudinal fold-forming crease.
5. The blank as defined in claim 1, wherein the end-forming panels
move rotationally in the same direction.
6. The blank as defined in claim 1, wherein the end-forming panels
move rotationally in opposite directions.
7. A carton formed from a cut and creased blank of foldable sheet
material, which carton comprises, in set-up condition: a base panel
hinged at opposed longitudinal edges to a lip and one of a pair of
opposing side panels which flank a top panel such that the side
panel hinged to the top panel remote from the base panel overlaps
and connects to the lip to define a tubular element; the base panel
further including a pair of opposing end panels, each hinged to the
base panel and movable from a first operative position to a second
operative position; a plurality of corner locks, each defined by a
transverse cut line adjacent the end panels, extending across a
longitudinal edge between adjacent top and side panels, such that
each corner lock may be inversely disposed relative to the top and
side panels to which the respective corner lock is connected in
order to orient each adjacent end panel in the second operative
position; and a pair of opposing handles movable from a first
operative position for stacking to a second operative position for
carrying.
8. The carton as defined in claim 7, wherein the handles include a
lock configured as a flap in one of the handles for engaging an
aperture defined in the opposing handle.
9. The carton as defined in claim 7, wherein one end panel extends
from a first end of the base panel and another panel is defined
within the base panel having a hinge line adjacent a second end of
the base panel such that the end panels move rotationally in the
same direction from the first operative position to the second
operative position.
10. The carton as defined in claim 7, wherein one end panel extends
from a first end of the base panel and another end panel extends
from a second end of the base panel, such that the end panels move
rotationally in opposite directions from the first operative
position to the second operative position.
11. A container for foodstuffs comprising: a carton formed from a
cut and creased blank of foldable sheet material, which carton
comprises, in set-up condition, a base panel hinged at opposed
longitudinal edges to a lip and one of a pair of opposing side
panels which flank a top panel such that the side panel hinged to
the top panel remote from the base panel overlaps and connects to
the lip to define a tubular element; the base panel further
including a pair of opposing end panels, each hinged to the base
panel and movable from a first operative position to a second
operative position; a plurality of corner locks, each defined by a
transverse cut line adjacent the end panels extending across a
longitudinal edge between adjacent top and side panels, such that
each corner lock may be inversely disposed relative to the top and
side panels to which the respective corner lock is connected in
order to orient such adjacent end panel in the second operative
position; and a pair of opposing handles movable from a first
operative position for stacking to a second operative position for
carrying; a tray formed from a cut and creased blank of foldable
sheet material including a base panel and opposing side panels
hinged to the base panel at laterally spaced longitudinal edges;
and a pad formed from a cut and creased blank of foldable sheet
material including a base panel and opposing end panels hinged to
the base panel at longitudinally spaced lateral edges.
12. The container as defined in claim 11, wherein the carton, tray
and pad are transversely bisected by a segmented cut line normal to
each longitudinal edge such that the container may be separated
into like first and second containers.
13. The container as defined in claim 12, wherein the first and
second containers each include one end panel extending from a first
end of the base panel and another end panel defined within the base
panel having a hinge line adjacent a second end of the base panel
such that the end panels move rotationally in the same direction
from the first operative position to the second operative position.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to a container, and more
particularly, to a paperboard container including a carton, among
other things, fashioned from unitary blank of paperboard.
[0002] The carton, in a set-up condition, has a generally tubular
shape and has moveable handles defined in the walls thereof. While
the container art includes many different constructions, in
general, none of them exhibits the advantage of the present
invention for the specific purpose of a container for
foodstuffs.
[0003] Prior art containers suitable for carrying elongated
foodstuffs commonly include a handle for carrying configured as a
vertically extending fin or tent-like structure. Such a handle
commonly extends along the length of the container and
substantially along a longitudinal axis thereof. In particular,
U.S. Pat. No. 1,984,611, issued to Weaver; U.S. Pat. No. 2,074,638,
issued to Black; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,655,707, issued to Jensen, all
disclose such containers. However, there is a major disadvantage
associated with these containers. Stacking of the assembled
containers for use either before or after receipt of contents is
nearly impossible. As a result, increased amounts of storage area
is required. This, of course, increases costs to the user.
[0004] Therefore, there is a significant demand for a container for
foodstuffs which is easy to manufacture, compact for shipping, easy
to assemble for receiving contents, stackable, durable and having
lockable end flaps for retaining the contents therein during
transport which provides the advantages of low cost, high strength,
stackability, ease of use, economized footprint and space
requirements while increasing functionality.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0005] In the course of the following detailed description,
reference will be made to the attached drawings, wherein like
reference numerals identify like parts and in which:
[0006] FIG. 1 is a plan view of a unitary blank of paperboard or
other stiff foldable and resilient sheet material from which a
carton of this invention is constructed;
[0007] FIG. 2 is an assembly drawing of the blank of FIG. 1
illustrating assembly of the blank into a carton;
[0008] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the carton formed from the
blank of FIG. 1 illustrating a first end panel locked in
position;
[0009] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a tray being assembled and
inserted into the carton of FIG. 3;
[0010] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a pad being assembled and
inserted into the carton of FIG. 4;
[0011] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a container for foodstuffs
constructed in accordance with the principles of the present
invention;
[0012] FIG. 7 is a plan view of a unitary blank of paperboard or
other stiff, foldable and resilient sheet material from which one
embodiment of the carton of the present invention is
constructed;
[0013] FIG. 8 is an assembly drawing of the blank of FIG. 7
illustrating assembly of the blank into a carton;
[0014] FIG. 9A is a bottom perspective view of a carton assembled
from the blank of FIG. 7 illustrating one end panel being moved to
a locked position from a bottom of the carton;
[0015] FIG. 9B is a top perspective view of the carton of FIG. 9A
illustrating the end panel locked in position;
[0016] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a tray being assembled and
inserted into the carton of FIG. 9B;
[0017] FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a pad being assembled and
inserted into the carton FIG. 10;
[0018] FIG. 12 is a perspective view of another end panel of the
carton of FIG. 11 being locked into position; and
[0019] FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the carton of FIG. 12
illustrating the handles being moved into an operative
position.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0020] One principal aspect of the present invention is directed to
a blank for fabricating a carton, which is formed from a generally
rectangular sheet of material. The blank is divided by a plurality
of longitudinal fold-forming creases into a plurality of generally
rectangular sections which sections are laterally offset relative
to one another. Each of the blank sections is divided by the
longitudinal fold-forming creases into a base-forming panel hinged
to one of a pair of opposing side-forming panels which flank a
top-forming panel and to a lip-forming panel. The base-forming
panel includes a pair of opposing end-forming panels hinged to the
base-forming panel by fold-forming creases for movement relative to
the base-forming panel. A plurality of corner lock-forming portions
are each defined in cooperatively adjacent top-forming panels and
side-forming panels adjacent an end of the blank by a transverse
cut line intersecting the longitudinal fold-forming crease and
extending between adjacent top-forming and side-forming panels. A
pair of opposed handle-forming portions are each defined in
cooperatively adjacent top-forming and side-forming panels by a
fold-forming crease disposed in the top-forming panel parallel to
and offset from the longitudinal fold-forming creases and a cut
line connecting opposed ends of the handle fold-forming crease.
[0021] In one embodiment, an aperture is defined in each
handle-forming portion to facilitate carrying. In another
embodiment, one of the handle-forming portions includes a locking
flap defined therein by a cut line and hinged to the handle-forming
portion by a fold-forming crease such that movement of the locking
flap into engagement with an aperture defined in another
handle-forming portion connects the handle-forming portions to
facilitate carrying. In yet another embodiment, the blank is
transversely bisected by a segmented cut line normal to each
longitudinal fold-forming crease. In still another embodiment, the
end-forming panels move rotationally in the same direction. In
still yet another embodiment, the end-forming panels move
rotationally in opposite directions.
[0022] Another principal aspect of the present invention is
directed to a carton formed from a cut and creased blank of
foldable sheet material. The carton includes, in a set-up
condition, a base panel hinged at opposed longitudinal edges to a
lip and one of a pair of opposing side panels which flank a top
panel. The side panel hinged to the top panel remote from the base
panel overlaps and connects to the lip to define a tubular element.
The base panel further includes a pair of opposing end panels each
hinged to the base panel and movable from a first operative
position to a second operative position. A plurality of corner
locks are each defined by transverse cut line adjacent the end
panels extending across a longitudinal edge between the top and
side panels, such that each corner lock may be inversely disposed
relative to the top and side panels to which the respective corner
lock is connected in order to orient each adjacent end panel in the
second operative position. The carton also includes a pair of
opposing handles movable from a first operative position for
stacking to a second operative position for carrying.
[0023] In one embodiment, the handles include a lock configured as
a flap in one of the handles for engaging an aperture defined in
the opposing handle. In another embodiment, one end panel extends
from a first end of the base panel and another end panel is defined
within the base panel having a hinge line adjacent a second end of
the base panel such that the end panels move rotationally in the
same direction from the first operative position to the second
operative position. In yet another embodiment, the one end panel
extends from a first end of the base panel and another end panel
extends from a second end of the base panel, such that the end
panels move rotationally in opposite directions from the first
operative position to the second operative position.
[0024] A further principal aspect of the present invention is
directed to a container for foodstuffs. A carton is formed from a
cut and creased blank of foldable sheet material. The carton
includes, in a set-up condition, a base panel hinged at opposed
longitudinal edges to a lip and one of a pair of opposing side
panels which flank a top panel such that the side panel hinged to
the top panel remote from the base panel and overlaps and connects
to the lip panel to define the tubular element. The base panel
further includes a pair of opposing end panels, each hinged to the
base panel and movable from a first operative position to a second
operative position. A plurality of corner locks are each defined by
a transverse cut line adjacent the end panels extending across a
longitudinal edge between adjacent top and side panels such that
each corner lock may be inversely disposed relative to the top and
side panels to which the respective corner lock is connected in
order to orient such adjacent end panel in the second operative
position. A pair of opposing handles are movable from a first
operative position for stacking to a second operative position for
carrying. The container further includes a tray formed from a cut
and creased blank of foldable sheet material including a base panel
and opposing side panels hinged to the base panel by laterally
spaced longitudinal edges. The container still further includes a
pad formed from a cut and creased blank of foldable sheet material
including a base panel and opposing end panels hinged to the base
panel by longitudinally spaced lateral edges.
[0025] In one embodiment the carton, tray and pad are transversely
bisected a segmented cut line normal to each longitudinal edge such
as the container may be separated into like first and second
containers. In another embodiment, the first and second containers
each include one end panel extending from a first end of the base
panel and another end panel defined within the base panel having a
hinge line adjacent a second end of the base panel such that the
end panels move rotationally in the same direction from the first
operative position to the second operative position.
[0026] Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 7, the unitary blank of
paperboard or other stiff, foldable and resilient sheet material
from which each embodiment of the carton of the present invention
is formed is indicated generally by reference numeral 10. The blank
10 is useful for fabricating a carton and is formed from a
generally rectangular sheet of material. The blank is divided by a
plurality of longitudinal fold-forming creases 12 into a plurality
of generally rectangular sections 14. In this embodiment, there are
at least five generally rectangular sections. However, it will be
recognized that any number of rectangular sections may be formed as
desired. The sections 14 are laterally offset relative to each
other.
[0027] The laterally offset blank sections 14 are generally
configured as a base-forming panel 16 hinged to one of a pair of
opposing side-forming panels 18, 20 which flank a top-forming panel
22. The base-forming panel 16 is hinged at an opposing side to a
lip-forming panel 24. The base-forming panel 16 in the embodiment
shown in FIG. 1 includes a pair of opposing end-forming panels 26
hinged to the base-forming panel 16 at respective first and second
ends 17 of the base-forming panel 16 by fold-forming creases 19 for
movement relative to the base-forming panel 16. In the embodiment
shown in FIG. 7, the base-forming panel 16 includes a pair of
opposing end-forming panels 26, 27, wherein one of the end-forming
panels 27 is defined within the base-forming panel 16. It will be
recognized that the end-forming panels 27 are present in the
embodiment of FIG. 1; However, they are not used in such
embodiment.
[0028] A plurality of corner lock-forming portions 28 are each
defined in cooperatively adjacent top-forming panel 22 and
side-forming panels 18, 20 adjacent an end 30 of the blank by a
transverse cut line 32 intersecting the longitudinal fold-forming
creases 12 between adjacent top-forming panel 22 and side-forming
panels 18, 20.
[0029] A pair of opposed handle-forming portions 34, 36 are each
defined in cooperatively adjacent top-forming panel 22 and
side-forming panels 18, 20 by parallel fold-forming creases 38,
disposed in the top-forming panel 22 that are offset from the
longitudinal fold-forming creases 12. A cut line 40, connects the
opposed ends of the handle fold-forming creases 38. The cut line 40
is disposed partly in the top-forming panel 22 and the side-forming
panels 18, 20. A handle aperture 42 is defined within the cut line
40 of each handle-forming portion 34, 36 substantially in the
side-forming panels 18. One of the handle-forming portions 34, 36
includes a locking flap 44 hinged to the handle-forming portion 34,
36 by a fold-forming crease 46. Preferably, the fold-forming crease
46 is disposed in one of the side-forming panels 18, 20.
[0030] In one embodiment of the present invention, the blank 10 is
transversely bisected by a segmented cut line 48 normal to each
longitudinal fold-forming crease 12. As will be discussed below,
the carton formed having the transverse segmented cut line 48
enables a user to separate the carton illustrated in FIGS. 1-6 into
a plurality of cartons as illustrated in FIGS. 7-13 each having
identical structure. Thus, the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1 is
useful as a double length carton as illustrated or as a plurality
of cartons constructed in accordance with the embodiment of FIGS.
7-13. This invention is particularly useful in the made-to-order
and carry-out sandwich industry where sandwiches are commonly
available in six (6) foot and three (3) foot lengths. The
embodiment shown in FIG. 1 preferably accommodates a six (6) foot
sandwich or two three (3) foot sandwiches. After separating the
container shown in FIG. 1 along the cut line 48, each container is
identical as shown in FIG. 7, which can each accommodate a three
(3) foot sandwich. One particular embodiment for manufacturing a
container for a six (6) foot sandwich has an end-to-end dimension
of seventy-seven (77) inches. It will be recognized by those of
skill in the art that changes in dimensions may be made as desired
and still practice the present invention.
[0031] In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, the end-forming
panels 26 move toward one another or rotationally in opposite
directions. However, the end-forming panels 26, 27 of the
embodiment illustrated in FIG. 7, move rotationally in the same
direction. It will be noted that in the embodiment illustrated in
FIG. 7, one of the end-forming panels 27 is defined within the
base-forming panel 16 by a cut line 50 and a fold-forming crease 52
which is offset from the end 30.
[0032] Referring now to FIGS. 2-6 and 8-13, assembly of the blank
10 into a carton and the container is described. A carton 60 may be
formed from a cut and creased blank 10 of foldable sheet material
in any conventional manner. Preferably, the carton 60 is partially
assembled in a flat configuration for convenience in shipping.
Creases 66 are formed in the blank such that the blank may be
folded substantially in half about one of the creases 66 to form a
two-layered element. Adhesive 72 is preferably applied to an outer
surface of the lip 70 such that when the other side panel 74 is
moved about another longitudinal crease 66, it is adhered to the
adhesive 72 disposed on the lip 70. At the point-of-use, the top
and bottom layers may be moved in opposite directions to erect the
carton 60. As a result, the blank 10 may be assembled to define a
tubular element seen in FIGS. 3-6 and 9-13. In the embodiment
illustrated in FIG. 2, the end panels 27, disposed within the base
panel 62 are moved from a first operative position coplanar with
the base panel 62 merely to illustrate the position of each within
the carton 60 of this embodiment. The end panels 27 in this
embodiment are not used. In operation, the end panels 27 shown in
the central portion of the base panel 62 would remain disposed
coplanar with the base panel 62 unless the carton 60 illustrated in
FIG. 2 were to be separated into two cartons each identically
configured as illustrated in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 8-13. In
which case, the end panels 27 would be used as discussed below.
[0033] Referring now to FIGS. 3, 9A and 9B, one of the end panels
26 (in FIG. 3), 27 (in FIG. 9) is moved from a first operative
position substantially coplanar with the base panel 62 to a second
operative position disposed substantially normal to the base panel
62. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3, one of the end panels
26 is moved toward the opposing end panel. However, in the
embodiment illustrated in FIG. 9, the end panel 27 is moved away
from the opposing end panel 26 or in the same direction
rotationally as the opposing end panel 26 will be moved in a
subsequent step. It will be recognized that this is a result of end
panel 27 being formed within the base panel 62. In both embodiments
shown in FIGS. 3 and 9, the end panels 26, 27 moved to the second
operative position are disposed to form one end of the carton 60.
In order to maintain the end panel 26, 27 oriented in the second
operative position, each of the corner locks 76 is inversely
disposed relative to the top and side panels 68 and 64, 74 in which
the corner lock 76 is defined.
[0034] Referring now to FIGS. 4 and 10, the remaining end of each
embodiment of the carton 60 is in an open configuration disposed to
receive a tray 78, which is formed from a cut and creased blank 80
of foldable sheet material. The tray 78 includes a base panel 82
and opposing side panels 84, 86 which are hinged to the base panel
82 at laterally spaced longitudinal edges 88, 90. The opposing side
panels 84 are moved about the respective longitudinal edges 88, 90
as indicated by arrow 92, such that the side panels 84, 86 are
disposed substantially normal to the base panel 82. The tray 78 may
then be inserted into the tubular element of the carton 60 after
completion of the step illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 9 in a direction
indicated by arrow 94.
[0035] Referring now to FIGS. 5 and 11, a pad 96 is formed from a
cut and creased blank of foldable sheet material 98 including a
base panel 100 and opposing end panels 102, 104 which are hinged to
the base panel at longitudinal spaced lateral edges 106, 108. It
will be recognized that pad 96 has a width configured such that the
pad 96 may be received within the tray when moved in the direction
of arrow 110 to an installed position. It will be noted that the
carton 60, tray 78, and pad 96, as illustrated in FIG. 5, are
transversely bisected by a segmented cut line 48 normal to each
longitudinal edge 66 such that the container 112 may be separated
into identically configured containers of smaller dimensions. It
will be recognized that the smaller containers are described in
detail herein with respect to FIGS. 7-13, and that the containers
112 illustrated in FIGS. 11-13 may be formed independent of the
container illustrated in FIG. 5 based upon the dimensions of the
foodstuffs to be received within such container.
[0036] Referring now to FIGS. 6, 12 and 13, the container 112
including the carton 60, tray (not shown) and pad (not shown) can
be fully enclosed by moving the second end panel 26 from the first
operative position substantially coplanar with the base panel 82 to
the second operation position. The second end panel 26 may be
retained in the second operative position by inversely disposing
each corner lock 76 relative to the top panel 68 and side panel 64,
74, as discussed above. In this configuration, the container,
including enclosed foodstuffs is easily capable of stacking because
of the flat top panel 68. It will be recognized that empty
containers may also be stacked and ready to receive foodstuffs.
[0037] When the containers are ready for transport, the handles 114
are moved from the first operative position for stacking where the
handles 114 are coplanar with portions of the top and side panels
68, 64, 67 to a second operative position for carrying where the
handles 114 are moved about the longitudinal fold lines disposed
offset from the longitudinal edges which define the top panel 68 to
a substantially upright orientation, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 13.
Preferably, one of the handles 114 includes a lock configured as a
flap 116, which is configured to engage a handle aperture defined
in the opposing handle 114. When the handles 114 are disposed in
the second operative position, the container 112 may be easily
carried and transported.
[0038] It will be recognized that as used herein, directional
references such as "top", "base", "end", and "side" do not limit
the respective panels to such orientation, but merely serve to
distinguish these panels from one another. Any reference to hinged
connection should not be construed as necessarily referring to a
single fold line only; indeed it is envisaged that hinged connected
can be formed from one or more of one of the following, a score
line, a frangible line, a fold line segmented cut line or a
perforated line, without departing from the scope of invention. The
shape of the blank minimizes the amount of paperboard required for
the carton.
[0039] While the preferred embodiments of the invention have been
shown and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the
art that changes and modifications may be made therein without
departing from the spirit of the invention, the scope of which is
defined by the appended claims. For example, different materials,
dimensions and methods of construction may be used.
* * * * *